Welfare fraud raid lands 28 people in custody today

Syracuse, NY - Authorities today arrested 28 people in connection with the theft of more than $500,000 in public assistance benefits.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Patrick Quinn said the investigation targeted 33 defendants responsible for $529,369.79 in fraudulent public assistance benefits. Those still being sought include a suburban couple accused of stealing $68,000 in benefits who are expected to be arrested Friday when they return from a trip to Las Vegas, the prosescutor said.

Felony arrest warrants were filed in City Court for another 11 defendants responsible for $71,783.12 in fraudulent payments, officials said.

Authorities said another 74 welfare recipients have been contacted by letter by the Onondaga County Department of Social Services about the payment of $102,161.63 in payments to which they were not entitled. Those people will be given an opportunity to pay back the money and agree to a disqualification from benefits or face possible prosecution.

Those arrested today had failed to respond to a prior letter notice from DSS, Quinn said.

The raid today was staged by the Onondaga County District Attorney's office and the county Department of Social Services in conjunction with officers from the New York State Police, the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office, the U.S. Marshall's Office and police from Syracuse, East Syracuse, Camillus, Cicero, Jordan and Manlius.